Plant milks for babies and children

Babies younger than six months should not be offered any plant milks/ drinks. If breastfeeding is not possible, the only alternative for feeding a baby is to use formula milks specifically designed and produced to meet infants’ requirements.

Giving a baby any regular plant milk that can be bought in supermarkets (soya, almond, oat, pea…) or a homemade formula (mixing regular plant milks with fruit and or vegetable juices) is very dangerous and almost always will lead to severe malnutrition and death.

So what formula milks are available for vegan families?

Soya formula milk: This is based on isolated soya protein, contains maltodextrin as the source of carbohydrates and a mixture of vegetable oils and fats. It is supplemented with some amino acids, vitamins and minerals in the specific amounts required by law.

Soya formula milks have been used for over a century, are safe and have shown to promote growth and development comparable to that of breastfed babies or babies who are fed cow’s milk formula.

Until recently it was possible to find a soya infant formula in the UK: SMA Soya Infant Formula. However, this is no longer available.

Soya infant formulas can be found in other European countries, and this may be an option for some parents. Bisoja, produced in Switzerland by Bimbosan, is a 100% vegan formula that includes plant-based DHA and contains all the vitamins and minerals in the amounts required in the UK and EU. Bisoja does not contain palm oil. https://bimbosan.ch/en/0-6-months/bisoja-1/

Hydrolysed rice protein formulas: These are more recent. They were originally developed for babies who are intolerant to cow’s milk and soya formula milks. They are not the same as the rice milks you can buy in the supermarket. The manufacturers isolate the protein from rice, break it down into amino acids and add maltodextrin and a mixture of vegetable oils and fats. As whole rice is not used, their content in arsenic is low and comparable to other formulas. In addition, by law the manufacturers must analyse the formula periodically and check that the content of arsenic and other substances are below certain limits.

These formulas have been tested in infants with allergies and have proven to be safe. Due to the protein hydrolysis, some babies do not find them pleasant and might dislike them.

There is a hydrolysed rice protein formula available in the UK that can be purchased in pharmacies: Similac Arize, manufactured by Abbott:  https://www.pharmacy2u.co.uk/shop/products/arize-cows-milk-protein-free-infant-formula-400g-0155410. This formula is not 100% vegan since it contains 2’-FL HMO, (2-fucsoyllactose human milk oligosaccharide). Whilst the 2’-FL in this formula is biosynthesised, the 2’-FL HMO is derived from lactose, the starting ingredient being cow’s milk. However, this ingredient is in very low quantities and is not itself of animal origin. The rest of the ingredients, including vitamin D and DHA, are plant-based.

This formula is the only current option for vegan babies in the UK.

Other European or international options:

Parents who prefer a 100% vegan formula may buy Bébé M, a hydrolysed rice protein formula manufactured in France. It is organic, free from palm oil, and is fortified with plant based DHA and plant based vitamin D: https://www.bebe-m.com/

Bimbosan in Switzerland also produces a vegan, palm oil-free hydrolysed rice protein formula:  https://bimbosan.ch/en/0-6-months/riso-ph/

In addition, the Australian brand Sprout Organic produces a 100% plant-based infant formula for babies based on rice (non-hydrolysed) protein, pea protein and rice starch.  As the rice protein is not hydrolysed, the formula tastes better.

This formula is of overall very good quality and is a good alternative for vegan families.

As this formula is manufactured in Australia, it follows Australian regulations in terms of minimum and maximum content of macro (protein, fat, carbohydrates) and micro (vitamins, minerals) nutrients. Although most nutrients are found in very similar quantities compared to European formulas, there are two, vitamin D and DHA, which are found in lower amounts.

Sprout Organic Infant Formula provides 0.7 µg of vitamin D / 100 ml. The RDI of vitamin D for babies under one year in the UK is 8.5-10 µg. A baby would have to drink 1200 ml of Sprout Organic Infant Formula to obtain 8.5 µg of vitamin D. To reach the same amount of vitamin D a baby would only need to drink 500 ml of Similac Arize (1.7 µg / 100 ml) or 530 ml of Bisoja 1 (1.6 µg / 100 ml).

Infants who are consistently taking less than one litre per day of Sprout formula should take a supplement providing 5 µg (200 IU) of vitamin D per day.  If the baby is already 6 months old, he or she can be started on the Vegan Society’s multivitamin for infants 6 months-5 years or an equivalent supplement that meets UK government recommendations.

In Australia, the addition of DHA to infant formula is not mandatory. Although Sprout formula includes DHA, it does so in smaller amounts than European formulas. For example, Similac Arize provides 16 mg of DHA per 100 ml. This means that 625 ml per day of this formula provides the recommended 100 mg of DHA per day at this age. Bébé M provides 14.5 mg / 100 ml; so 700 ml of formula would cover the daily DHA requirement.

However Sprout Organic Infant Formula provides 7.7 mg DHA / 100 ml. A baby would need to drink 1350 ml per day to meet his or her DHA needs. Many babies between 3 and 6 months can take this amount, but not all. In the first few weeks of life many babies will take much less. If you find that your baby is consistently taking less than 1 litre a day of this formula, give them a separate supplement of 100 mg DHA 2-3 times a week (or 50 mg every day).

FAQs

Are organic or palm oil-free formula milk options better?

At Plant-Based Health Professionals UK, we do not think we have enough evidence to say that organic / palm oil-free are better options. We have included these aspects because they are important considerations for some parents and they consider them if they can choose between some similar alternatives. Some vegans avoid palm oil for environmental reasons. These aspects are added simply to facilitate a choice based on each family’s personal preferences, however, this does not mean they are necessarily better or worse.

How about breast milk banks?

With regards to breast milk banks, this donated milk is exclusively for premature and sick babies admitted in neonatal units. Healthy babies have no access to this. This is unlikely to be a possibility in the short to medium term, as there is always a shortage of donated milk for hospitalised babies. Donated breast milk used in hospitals is pasteurised and frozen as soon as it is obtained from the donors, and screened for viruses and bacteria.